# NTSB NYC78FA091: Aero Comdr 500S, N40MA, Hammondsport, NY, September 11, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 11, 1978
- Place: Hammondsport, NY · HAMMONDSPORT, NY
- Location: 42.4087° N, 77.2229° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hammondsport, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4087&lon=-77.2229&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 20, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139440
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FA091
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FA091

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4028  78/9/11    HAMMONDSPORT,NY     AERO COMDR 500S     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1925                    N40MA               PX-  2  2  0  CORP/EXEC                 51, 6300 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TAYLOR-VAN GELDER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RALEIGH,NC                  HAMMONDSPORT,NY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           STALL                                                    LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
           TERRAIN - OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SUNGLARE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          HAZE                                                      74
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          230                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- AIRCRAFT APPROACH TOWARD RISING TERRAIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40MA-1981-09-30), registration cancelled 1981-09-30, S/N 3234, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMDR 500S
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500 S](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-s) (registry code 0141107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Taylor-Van Gelder

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19780911043509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780911043509A), Sep 11, 1978: Rkwell 500S, Hammondsport, NY, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft approach toward rising terrain.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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